Chapter 8: Dark forces rising

Atarashii's eyes fluttered open and the first sight she saw was Kenji sitting across from her on the other side of the fire. His back was turned to her and he didn't even seem to be breathing. He was still as a stone, arms and legs folded, head turned upwards to face the stars.

Untangling herself from the blanket covering her, Atarashii stood and walked over and sat down next to him. He barely acknowledged her presence. "Kenji? Is something wrong?"

"The stars...they are dimmer tonight."

"What?" Atarashii looked skywards with him. "They look the same to me."

"Maybe for someone who has not lived on this planet for long." He paused. Then, "The shamans say that the stars reflect the condition of the galaxy we live in."

"What does it mean if they are dim?"

"It means...the stars know how perilous the galaxy's future is. They hide from the new evil approaching us by dimming, to warn us that we, too, should fear."

"Mei can't be so powerful that he'd destroy the galaxy...would he?" Atarashii asked, staring at the Kaio.

Kenji blinked and turned to face her. Atarashii was frozen by the age and wisdom held in the handsome man's eyes. They seemed so deep, not unlike the underground pool of Rising Hopes Inn, holding the knowledge of people long since gone. "Majin Buu almost did...didn't he?"

Atarashii didn't know what to say. She only turned her eyes back to the stars, wondering just how dim they had become. "What else do they say?"

"They say...they fear for the lives of the deities of the elements. The Guardians. It seems that they are in Mei's clutches."

"What?!" Atarashii leapt up, looking for her staff. "Judaiko and the others? We have to go find them!"

She was stopped by Kenji's hand clutching her wrist. Angry, she tried to escape. "What are you doing?!"

"You are far too brash. If you charged off now, you'd only be playing into Mei's hands. He wants you to come, using the ones dear to you as bait. He needs all of you alive and in his grasp before the prophecy comes to be."

"Why? I thought he was trying to kill me."

"He is. Sit down, and allow me to explain." Atarashii did as she was told and Kenji let go of her. "The Toku-jin, when they died, became wandering spirits, having no place in hell or heaven, until they can find a new host. But if they die on their home planet, then they simply return to the planet as some lower life form such as an animal or plant."

It was all becoming clear now. "So if I died now, my soul would have the chance to search for another body to use?"

"Exactly. Mei is gathering the Guardians of this age so he may kill them all without strain on their homeworld, trapping your and their souls there. That would give him the opportunity to destroy the Kaioshins and take over the universe."

"How...how do you know so much?" The fact that he did was unsettling to Atarashii. She'd come to trust the man since he'd saved her life but now doubt was gnawing away at her faith in him.

"Mei...Mei and I knew each other, when he was still a good and sane man."

"You knew Mei Kijin!?"

"Yes." He looked to the stars again. "We were good friends...but when he joined with the wizard Bibidi, he asked me to join him in his quest to conquer. I chose to live a different life...so he killed me."

"Killed you? But you're right here."

Kenji smiled lightly. "No. I died. But Emma Daio saw that I was an honest and good person, so I was reborn again." He looked at her wrist. The bleeding had stopped but it was touchy. "You're still in pain, Lady?"

"Not really. It's sore but –"

Before she could stop him, Kenji had taken her hand and wrapped it in his. A tingling feeling and a soft hum in the air told Atarashii that he was using healing powers to restore her wound. But what truly fascinated her was the feel of his hands; they were so soft but held a quiet strength. When the bite was gone, not a mark to be seen, she mumbled, "Arigato."

"You're welcome, Lady." He stood and gently pulled her up with him. "You should go rest."

Atarashii didn't know what to do. She was frozen to the ground, her hand still in his. She gazed up at his ravishing face and wondered what he had looked like in his former life, what he had been. Had he been this handsome? Did he have a lover?

Who had he been?

Unexpectedly, Kenji raised her hand and gave it a tender kiss, just above the skin. Atarashii couldn't stop the blood from rushing to her face or the hairs rising on her arms. Why did he do that to her?

Kenji turned and started back to his own cot. Atarashii, too, went to her cot and nestled deep into the blankets. But she found she couldn't go back to sleep as easily as Kenji. Her mind swam with the possibilities of what Mei could have been doing to her friends and to Yohotoko, what was happening back on Kaioshin-Kai...and the kiss still tingling through her body.

"Are you ready, Leiko?"

"Yes, Master."

"Alright. Have a safe journey."

"Master!...arigato. I will."

The dawn came only too soon for Atarashii. The others had awoken and packed just as she was trying to get up. As she put out the fire and buried any signs they had ever camped there, she and Kenji exchanged a glance. She couldn't deny the attraction any more. He was handsome, that was a given, but his personality charmed her as well. That, and there was the kiss...

She forced the thoughts out of her head. She was married, a mother! All Kenji was is a partner and that boundary couldn't be crossed for any kind of desire. He had to understand that, and so did she. But why the kiss then...

Picking up her pack, she followed the others. Kenji and Suisei led the way while Chiko and Ken covered the back. All the while, Atarashii kept her staff out. She didn't want to be caught off guard again. With the failure of the Gaki, Mei was sure to send something far more powerful their way and wouldn't be joking this time.

The road was far easier and clearer than before. It seemed as though the very forest was parting for the group, giving them safe passage.

"Why don't we just fly?" Ken asked. "And where the hell are we going anyway?!"

"Good question," mumbled Chiko, and Atarashii had to agree. Kenji carried on as if they hadn't spoken but Suisei turned around and put up a finger in the universal sign for silence. Ken scowled but silenced.

"We can't fly; Mei's spies are everywhere," Kenji said a few minutes later. "Even some greedy Kaios may be on his side. And we're going to an informant of mine, a good friend who can be trusted. It's only a little bit further."

"A little bit further" took over three hours to reach. It was a small building not unlike those of Earth. "Hey, how is it that the buildings of the Kaios looks so much like Earth's?" Atarashii asked.

"Well, as you know, the Kaios were the second intelligent race to evolve. We started creating cultures before humans and even Saiya-jins learned how to use a stick! So, when we finally conquered space travel, we paid many visits to the other races evolving." Kenji shrugged. Then, "Apparently, some Kaios visited Earth and the style flourished."

"Huh."

Everyone but Kenji jumped when the door was slammed open and a woman came out. She was crying but not from fright or pain; she seemed to be weeping with absolute joy. She threw herself into Kenji's arms and held him tightly.

Atarashii couldn't help but sneer, feeling a slight stab of jealousy.

If he could see it, Kenji ignored it. He turned to his group and said, "This is Ayame."

"The informant?" Chiko asked.

"Yes."

"I was so worried," sobbed Ayame, looking up at Kenji with great, big black eyes. Atarashii felt the envious pang strengthen. "I saw a whole mess of Gaki run by here and I feared the worse."

"Now, now," Kenji said, stroking Ayame's head. "As you can see, both Suisei and I are fine." He waved a hand to Atarashii and the others. "And I found our Lady."

Ayame seemed to notice them for the first time; Atarashii desperately hoped that the girl couldn't see the spite in her face. "Oh! Hi, there!" she said cheerfully, raking back the strands of black hair from her pale face. Had it not been for the pointy ears, Atarashii could have thought her human. With a bow, she said, "It's wonderful to meet you, Lady Minami, and your company."

Regaining her manners, Atarashii repeated the gesture. "It's nice to meet you as well, Ayame. Kenji said that you have some information?"

"Yes!" She straightened and pointed inside. "Come inside; it's too dangerous to speak outside about such matters."

Kenji and the others followed but Atarashii hung back for a moment. The emotions she was suddenly feeling were threatening to overpower her. Why was it she had been, and still was, so jealous at the sight of Ayame hugging Kenji? Was it because she got to do what she deeply wished to?

Atarashii decided that this wasn't the time and walked inside. Now wasn't the time to be thinking of lust and desires instead of the salvation of the universe.